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The city is taking over vacant houses. The dwellings are sold at auction to buyers who can prove they are ready to renovate them.

A gray brick house is renovated in a section of Patterson Park Avenue in what's now being called Station East. The city said the red brick house next door is undergoing a transformation in the 900 block of Patterson Park Avenue.

"This obviously is the main level, fairly typical layout," said Ed Sabatino.

A tour of a house renovated from top to bottom. The buyer is expected to move in this week.

"So we've got an original staircase here; as part of the historic rehab process, we try to retain and restore the remaining historic material remaining in the house," Sabatino said.

It has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.

"It's basically a brand new house in existing brick walls," Sabatino said.

It has new life after sitting vacant for 10 years, according to Assistant Housing Commissioner Jason Hessler. He said the city went to court, spending two years trying to get the property owners to make repairs.

"We would prefer not to take anyone to court," Hessler said.

Under the Vacants to Value Program, the city auctioned off the house along with 39 others in the area to the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition. The group is also rehabbing the house next door and another on the street. The vacants behind them will also see change.

"Those houses are slated for demolition in the next 30 to 60 days," Sabatino said.